California Condor Nests

[frogfish]

Condors spotted nesting in Big Sur

Thursday, March 30, 2006; Posted: 10:42 a.m. EST (15:42 GMT)

A condor guards a nest inside a hollowed-out redwood tree in Big Sur.

BIG SUR, California (AP) -- California condors are nesting in the northern part of the state for the first time in more than 100 years, scientists said.

A condor couple was found Monday displaying nesting behavior inside a hollowed-out redwood tree in Big Sur, a mountainous coastal region south of Monterey, the Ventana Wildlife Society said Tuesday.

The last known condor egg in Northern California was collected in 1905.

"For the past 10 years when this sort of thing came up, it turned out to be just in my dreams," said Kelly Sorenson, the group's executive director. "Now it is a reality."

The male and female took turns guarding the nest every two or three days, never leaving it unattended for more than several minutes, the scientists said.

"Although the view into the cavity is very limited and we can't actually see the egg, we strongly suspect they have an egg, based on their behavior at the nest site," said Joe Burnett, a wildlife biologist.

Scientists have worked for years to bring the condor back from the brink of extinction. Condors are among the largest birds native to North America, with a wingspan up to 9 1/2 feet (3 meters).

Ventana, a nonprofit group, began releasing condors into the wild in 1997.

The condor recovery effort has increased the number of birds tenfold over two decades. 

But about 40 percent of released condors have died because of power lines or attacks by golden eagles, among other causes.

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[crouton]

That's cool. Best Wishes for them! And all condors!